Design a Device That Feeds the Brain Synthetic Sight, Sound, Touch, Taste and Smell

Design a computer that reproduces the signals the human brain receives from the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. Explain whom it is for, which sense or senses it handles first, how it would work at a product level, and how you would judge whether it succeeds. ```hint One sense, one user group Covering all five senses at once is not a first version. Decide who would gain the most from synthetic sensation, and let that choice set which sense comes first and how the signal should reach the brain. ``` ### Clarifying Questions - What is the computer for: restoring a sense a person has lost, making games and virtual worlds feel real, or letting people share sensations at a distance? - Is surgery acceptable for the users you choose, or must the device be wearable and non-invasive? - Must the first version handle all five senses, or can it start with one and add the others later? - Should the design rely on technology that works today, or is this a long-range research bet for Google? ### What a Strong Answer Covers - A clear reading of what the device does, with an honest view of technical feasibility and how it limits the first version - A comparison of user segments (restoring lost senses, entertainment, remote presence) and a justified choice - A choice of starting sense and of how signals reach the brain, plus a path to more senses - A first version built around the chosen users' daily needs: control, comfort, portability and safety - Success metrics based on perception and daily-life outcomes, plus safety, ethics, privacy and regulatory risks ### Follow-up Questions - How would you test whether the device works when the result is a sensation only the user can perceive? - A consumer version for virtual reality could earn money years before a medical one. Which would you build first, and why? - How would you protect users if their sensory feed or neural data could be recorded or tampered with?